Trust

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Stand still or sit down for just a few seconds. Close your eyes. Did you trust that everything would remain the same when you looked again?

I hope so. Trust requires confidence in oneself, the environment, and others. Opportunities to develop trust are abound, but they can be difficult to maintain.

What I'm saying should be familiar to you. You've encountered trust and distrust in personal and professional situations.

An important election is coming in November.

If you live in the United States and choose to vote, you will trust a presidential candidate. If you're a reader of this blog, your vote will likely not go towards someone with a last name that rhymes with chump.

These posts are an extension of advocating efforts to support diverse communities. Only one of the presidential hopefuls reflects and supports equity and social justice. She's not perfect, but definitely better than the other guy.

That's advice you can trust.

Lately, I've had to revisit this topic of trust. The landscape around me is changing, and I must make choices that rely on perceptions of safety.

Circumstances remind me that perspective colors your reality. How we see things can paint pictures with grey clouds or clear, vibrant skies.

Keep reading, I have a story to share.

About a month ago, my youngest son, Kazo, decided he wanted to learn how to do a backflip. He asked me to spot him in the yard or on the sand at the beach every day. Kazo wasn't afraid to jump, but he had serious doubts about his abilities to tuck, look back, and land on his feet.

What was his inspiration?

He has watched me flip for years as part of my acrobatic movement practices in capoeira.

Kazo trusted me as a coach, and I had advice. We started with a backbend, progressed to a walkover, proceeded with a jumping walkover, and eventually to a back handspring.

He was relentless.

He tried every movement leading up to his goal for weeks but couldn't find the confidence to execute the flip. He fell multiple times to his knees and shed some tears but refused to quit.

Last Sunday, something changed.

While I sat in the carport, he repeated the same mistake. He hesitated because he was concerned about injuring himself. He stopped before he allowed himself to land on his feet.

Isn't that what we do? We progress toward a goal and stop because we fear failure.

Eventually, I left my comfortable seat and offered advice.

Kazo listened and attempted to implement my suggestions for another hour. Under the hot Caribbean sun, sweat dripped from his forehead. With my encouragement, he took breaks for water and returned.

Eventually, something clicked, and he landed the movement. When I asked him how he did it, he said, "I only needed the confidence."

I attempted to give him confidence. I stood behind him, placed my hand on his back, and grabbed his T-shirt. How I spotted him prevented him from falling on his head or twisting an ankle.

While it helped, ultimately, the skill rested in his beliefs.

Like trust, confidence is something you earn over time.

Sometimes, we need others to gain trust in our abilities, talents, and skills. Other times, we just need ourselves to show up and prove what's possible for our lives.

The feedback I received from colleagues in my department last month helped me proceed with my presentation at the AMEE 2024 conference. They critiqued the content and delivery. Their trust in me boosted the necessity of traveling to Switzerland and presenting an abstract idea about music, poetry, teaching, and learning strategies.

After practicing multiple times, I found the courage to trust in myself to provide a presentation that could impact diversity, teaching, and learning in medical schools. Don't trust me on this one. Please review the video below and let me know your thoughts in the comments.

As you move throughout this week, explore opportunities to trust. You will find whatever you seek in life, but not often in the way you anticipate.

Trust the journey to uncovering greatness.  For help along the way, subscribe to this blog or explore coaching services.